Electrolytic cell and mounting therefor



Feb. 16, 1932. w. HOLLAND y 1,845,047(

ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed oct. 15. 1925 2 sheets-Sheet 1 fnwyr WMZ GM Feb. 16, 1932. w. E. HOLLAND I ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Oct. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE WALTER E. HOLLAND, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PHILADEL- PHIA STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA l:EmaCTR-oristano CELL A ND MOUNTING THEREFOR Application led October 15,V 1925. Serial No. 62,606.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells and more particularly tothe terminals of and mountings for rectifier and battery cells.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of terminals and mounting providing for quick and easy insertion and removal of the cell, and in which the cell is properly connected to the electrical circuit and iirmly held.

` Another object is to provide a mounting in which the securing means is constituted by the same elements that function as the contactors or terminal-engaging parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting in which the cell clamping means consists of resilient terminal-engaging elements which are retained in terminalgripping position by their own resiliency.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide resilient termineil-engaging retaining elements so formed asautomatically to yreceive and grip the c ellterminals as the cell -is moved to a normal position inv the mount.

Thev invention further contemplates 'they provision of a novel arrangement of contactors `or termin al-engaging elements ada-pted in conjunction with correspondingly and differentially arranged cellterminals to prevent connection of the cell in the mount eX- cept in the proper position as regards cathode and anode.

The' invention also resides vinthe provision of novel bottom retaining and insulating means for the cell.

These and other useful ends are obtained as hereinafter described by means of the novel construction illustrated Y in the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view,par tially in section, of cells in a multiple mount made in accordance with this invention; 4

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the terminal-engaging elements.

With reference to the drawings, the mount comprises a cell-supporting frame including a base 1 andback 2. In a preferred form, the frame may consist of an integral piece of sheet metal. Secured in suitable manner to the base 1 is a cell supporting pad 3 which preferably should be of insulating material and which in the present instance is circular in form. Where cushioning of the cell is desired, the pad 3 may be made of soft rubber.

At the top of the back 2 is an aperture 4 and removably secured over the aperture to the forward face of the back is a plate 5 of hard rubber, bakelite or other suitable Ainsulating material. The plate 5 constitutes a panel support for a pair of contactor elements 6 and 7 inthe form of resilient clips, which may be secured to the panel by bolts 8 or other suitable securing means. In the present instance, the bolts constitute means-for connectirllg electrical conductors to the contactor c ips.

to the panel at a point higher than the clip 7 the clips thereby being adapted to engage respectively the projecting tops of the electrodes 9 and 10 of the cell 11, which electrodes project to different heights above the top of the cell 11. The arrangement is such as to Acca' As clearly illustrated, the clip 6 is secured Ser. No. 69,830. filed November 18, 1925, (now j Patent No. 1,7 07.857 granted-April 2. 1929), My invention, therefore, in its broader features is not limited to the specific constructional details of the cell 11.

It will be noted that the outer ends of the 'clips are slightly upturned, and each is pref-` erably provided on its nether side with a groove 13 extending from the outer end longitudinally to an aperture 14 finto which the upper 4ends of the electrodes 9 and 10 are adapted to fit.

The cell 11 is provided in its bottom with a recess 15 into which the pad 3 is adapted to fit, the pad being thicker than the depth of-the recess so that the cell is supported above the base 1 and upon the pad. Obviously, the pad, in addition to supporting, the cell, prevents lateral displacement of the bottom ofthe cell in the apertures 14 in the top,

from a normal position and insulates the bottom of the cell from the base.

In inserting the cell in the mount, it is first placed upon the pad 3 with the high and low cell terminals in a position corresponding with the'high and low contactors, and then pushed in at the .top until the cell terminals engage in the outer ends .of the grooves 13' of the respective clips. Continued pressure forces the to of the cell toward the back, the tips of the e grooves 13 andthe clips 6 and 7 being flexed upwardly until the tips of the terminals lodge which they are retained b the downward ressure of the `clips, good electrical contact being established between the respective terminals and contacter clips. Release of the cell isaccomplished by iiexing the clipsupwardly to an extent freeing the electrodes from the apertures. v

Obviously, there may be considerable modification without departure from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

' 1. The combination with an electrolytic cell ,including terminal posts projecting at of a support for the cell, and a pair of contact elements in the form of Hat resilient and transversely projecting strips each having a substantially horizontal portion, in which is formed an aperture for reception respectively of the tips of the terminaljposts,

and having also an outer portion inclined uplwardly from said apertured horizontal part and formedin its under side with a longitudinal groove terminating in the said aperture. 2. The combination with an electrolytic A`cell including terminal posts projecting at the top, of a support for the cell, and a pair of contact elements in the form of iiat resilient and transversely projecting strips'each having a substantially' horizontal portion, in which is formed an aperture for reception respectively of the tips of the terminal posts,

y and having also an outer portion inclined upwardly from said apertured horizontal part andformed in'its under side with a longitudinalgroove terminating in the said aperture, the outer extremities of the said. Contact strips projecting normally to a point higher `than the tips of the terminal posts when the lbottom of the vcell engages said' support.

3. The combination with an electrolytic cell including terminal posts projecting above the top thereof and having their upper ex-A tremitles tapered, ofv a support for said cell,

and means for clamping the cell on the sup'- port includinga pair of resilient metallic turesmaller in diameter than the saidposts i latter.' t Y 4. ,The combination with an electrolytic cell elements `projecting transversely and bearling resiliently uponthe tops of said terminal posts, each of said-elements having an aperand'adaptedto receive the tapered ends ofthe ectro'des moving along the guidev including terminal posts projecting atthe top, of a support for the cell,- and a pair of vertically resilient Contact elements secured to the support and each having an aplertui'e adapted respectively Afor reception of t e tops ofthe said posts, together with a ide groove in the under side terminating at its inner ,end

the cell is seated, and a pair of substantially horizontal metallic elements adapted tov re-y siliently engage and retain the tops of said postssaid elements being resilient in substantially parallel vertical planes and havving upwardly inclined extremities normally extending above the tops of the posts when the cell is seated on the base to thereby permit insertion-of the cell to the retained positionby pressure exerted on the cell following engagement 'of the posts under the said inclined extremities.

, 6. The combination with an electrolytic cell including terminal osts projecting to diii'erent heights above tiie top thereof, of a support including a base'niember upon which the cell is seated, and a pair of substantially horizontal metallic elements adapted to resiliently engage and retain the tops of said posts', said elements being resilient in substantially parallel verticalplanes and having upwardly inclined extremities normally extending above the tops of the posts when the cell is seated on the base to therebylpermit insertion of the cell to the retained position by pressure exerted on the cell following engagement of the posts under the said' inclined extremities, and cell-positioning means on the base effective in any direction l of movement of the cell to prevent displace- .ment thereof until the said retaining elements are released.

7. The combination with an electrolytic cell lincluding terminal above the top thereof, of a support including a base'meinber upon which the cell is seated,

and a pair of substantially horizontal metallic elements adapted to resiliently engage and retain the tops of said-posts, said elements being resilient in substantially vertical planes and having apertures for reception of the tips of the posts with a` groove extending vim posts projecting from an edge of therelement into-said a erture,'said grooves being adapted for gui l' g the tops of the postsv into the apertures- 8. The combination withl an electrolytic cell including terminal posts projecting above the top thereof, of a support including and a pair of substantially horizontal metal- .a basemember upon which the cell is'seated,

retain the tops of said posts, said elements beng'resilient in substantially vertical planesl and having apertures for reception of the tips of the posts with a groove extending from an edge of the element into said aperture, said grooves being adapted for guiding the tops of the posts into the apertures and means for preventing displacement of the bottom of the cell in all directions when the posts are engaged in said apertures.

WALTER E. HOLLAND. 

